U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would not consider using nuclear weapons against Iran, despite earlier rhetoric suggesting devastating consequences for the country.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump dismissed the idea of deploying nuclear arms, pointing instead to the effectiveness of conventional military operations.
“No, I wouldn’t use it,” he said. “Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we’ve, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it? A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.”
The remarks come after Trump’s earlier warning on April 7 that Iranian civilization could be “completely destroyed,” a statement that drew global concern before a ceasefire was later agreed and extended in the conflict involving the United States and Israel.
During the crisis, Vice President JD Vance had indicated that Washington was prepared to escalate military pressure using weapons not previously deployed, though the White House later clarified that this did not imply nuclear options.
Trump reiterated his administration’s stance that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, saying the goal remains to prevent any threat to U.S. cities or broader regional stability.
Iran, however, continues to deny pursuing nuclear arms, while the United Nations nuclear watchdog has previously indicated that an atomic weapon was not imminent prior to the conflict.
Historically, the United States remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons in warfare, during World War II, when atomic bombs devastated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in massive casualties.
While Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, it has maintained a policy of ambiguity and has not officially confirmed its arsenal.
Trump’s comments appear to contrast with longstanding U.S. nuclear doctrine, which allows for the potential use of nuclear weapons under extreme circumstances. Previous administrations, including that of Barack Obama, have advocated for long-term global nuclear disarmament while maintaining nuclear capabilities as a deterrent.
The United States has also declined to adopt a “no first use” policy, preserving its option to deploy nuclear weapons if deemed necessary in future conflicts.
